Article – Liturgical Leeway

Beginning on February 11, 2023, we will celebrate the Saturday 9:00am Mass in Latin. This will continue to be a Novus Ordo Mass and not the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM). The proper prayers and readings will usually be in English, but on occasions in Spanish. Booklets will be provided in English and Spanish so that everyone will be able to follow and participate in all the parts of the Mass. The TLM is often celebrated on first Saturdays at 10am at the shrine. We added the 9:00am Mass last summer especially because Saturday is traditionally devoted to Our Blessed Mother. Since we are a Marian Shrine, it is only fitting that we have a Mass on Saturday.

Some have expressed concern that the friars intend to eventually make all the Masses at the shrine to be in Latin. This is not our plan. We may add an 8:00am Novus Ordo Latin Mass on Sundays, but there is no plan to change the English or Spanish Mass. The following liturgical goals that motivate us and may help to alleviate some fears or at least answer some questions:

• to always offer reverent and beautiful Liturgies according to the guidelines of the Church.
• to allow for legitimate diversity when appropriate.
• to rediscover some of the rich liturgical traditions of the Church which have been lost or neglected.

One example of this last goal is celebrating the Mass in Latin, which has always been an option but is rarely used. There are obvious advantages to praying the Mass in the vernacular, but Latin has some distinct advantages also. Latin itself was used originally because it was the commonly spoken language. But now that it is no longer such, it is uniquely suited to be used as a kind of consecrated speech. The reform of the Second Vatican Council allowed for greater use of the vernacular but also stated that use of Latin should be retained. (Cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium 36) It gives the sacred rites a greater sense of transcendence. This helps us to be aware that we are participating in the worship of the angels and the saints in Heaven.

Also, Latin is still the universal language of the Church. No matter what our mother-tongue may be, in the Roman rite this ancient language belongs to the common heritage of us all.

Like many, for a long time I had a kind of revulsion for any use of Latin or other aspects of the pre-conciliar liturgy. I had no desire to go back to old-fashioned ways, especially some of the vestments that were worn which I still believe to be in bad taste. But with time, study and gradual exposure, I became convinced that I was wrong to be so closed to something I really knew very little about. And I have come to appreciate greatly the beauty and wisdom of our liturgical patrimony, especially the amazing music that has been written.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. May Our Lady of the Holy Rosary guide us!

Pax et Bonum – Peace and Good – Paz y Bien – Pace e Bene – Paz e Bem – Spokój i Dobro – Ramybé ir Géris – Pyeonghwawa Seon – Lapé ak Byen – Paix et Bien – Myr i Dobro

— Fr. Peter